Action Gift Ideas

This generation Naughty Dog mastered creating characters we became genuinely emotionally attached to. And this is the year they left the friendly confines of the Uncharted series and dove into something much more harrowing. Joel is a man who no longer knows morality but becomes reacquainted with humanity at the hands of a young girl whom he takes under his wing. In The Lsst of Us, it isn't clear if we should be more horrified by the game's mutated horrors, or the world's remaining "civilized" citizens. Mixing stealth to sneak by the visually impaired mutations and precision gunplay to take down looters, The Last of Us will provide you with a stroll through the worst that humanity has to offer.

Following multiple characters throughout one massive overworld, the sandbox king is back on the market with the arrival of Grand Theft Auto V. The game offers the largest and most detailed world map to date, making it easy to get lost in the experience for hours at a time. Stealing cars, mini-games, and random explosive mayhem are all fair game, but the story arc of three criminals coming together to plan a series of heists takes precedent over the fun trouble you can still get yourself into. San Andreas comes alive for the taking for the first time in nearly a decade, so make sure you seize it.

Worlds collide in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, with the reemergence of the cyborg ninja, Raiden as he shows off just what his new body can do. Raiden is no longer one of a few cyborg ninjas on the planet, and as such must destroy tons of radically transformed enemies on his path to cutting through rogue organizations built upon war. Fast-paced action with katanas and a revolutionary targeting system allows the player to slice and dice through enemies using the analog sticks, cutting in any and every motion possible. No melon, car, or spinal cord is safe when Raiden is on the loose.

Take a totally tubular trip back through the 1980s... of the future. A stand-alone extension of one of last year's best games, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon takes place as a '80s science-fiction movie about the future, where the world is in chaos and Blood Dragons roam the dystopia. While the excellent gunplay and stealth gameplay tactics of Far Cry 3 remain the same, everything from the guns to the island to the story has hilariously and dramatically changed. You control Sergeant Rex Colt, Mark IV Cyber Commando, as he wades through the nuclear wastelands of 2007 to get the girl and save mankind from itself... and metal sharks.

The unlikeliest of cult heroes on the gaming market, the Monster Hunter series from Capcom has long been a massive success in Japan, and that enthusiasm has begun to spread worldwide. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate offers players the chance to scour a large world filled with dragons and other beastly creatures to collect new gear and loot. Local play allows nearby 3DS and even Wii U users to congregate and take out the toughest of monsters together as one unit, completing tasks otherwise deemed too challenging by themselves. Check out the series that has developed a cult-like following.

Creep around the perimeter and stalk your prey, for you are the one who knocks... people out. The latest in the long line of Splinter Cell games, Blacklist continues the tale of super spy Sam Fisher. Sam must track down a terrorist group dubbed the Engineers before they can hatch (what else?) a diabolical scheme. Stealth is key to survival, and Fischer is one of the best at it. Planting traps for enemies to fall prey to, and using your cunning over brute strength offers a unique experience that the Splinter Cell series has become synonymous with.

The re-imagining of the Tomb Raider franchise is in full-effect. The development team at Crystal Dynamics has come together to breathe fresh life into the series. A young Lara Croft sets out to sea in order to track down her very first big discovery with her mentor at her side. When her crew crashes on a cursed island, Lara must use her natural curiosity and intelligence to find a way off the island, all while avoiding a dangerous cult in the process. Fiery bow and arrows will guide your way as you battle with the well-armed cult members, collecting relics and using your surroundings to outsmart a massive number of enemy combatants.

One of gaming's best beat 'em ups has gotten a little younger with prequel DmC: Devil May Cry. Going into the younger years of Devil May Cry protagonist Dante provides more backstory to the popular character, and provides complete fan service with appearances from favorite characters throughout the history of the series. Follow Dante as he uses his perfect blend of shooting and slicing to defeat a diverse cast of demonic entities sprawling over various landscapes.

Welcome to the dark side of the law. Payday 2 brings a unique criminal experience to the table, allowing a band of merry mercenaries comprised of either A.I. teammates or 4-player online co-op to have fun committing crimes together. Hold up a bank and take as much cash as your group can carry to the getaway car, or pull off a complicated art heist gone awry that tests just how well your team can operate under pressure. Unlocking numerous treasures will be your reward for successful missions, leading to tons of gun modifications and millions of mask combinations. Everything is better with friends, but especially criminal activities.

The Xbox One promises to be an all-in-one entertainment console, including plenty of fun for those of us who get our jollies by blasting things to kingdom come. With titles like Dead Rising 3, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Ryse: Son of Rome, and Call of Duty: Ghosts lined up for the launch, your Day One fix for high-octane action should be appeased. The Xbox One seems poised to be the gift that keeps on giving in 2014, with the likes of online mech title Titanfall on the way to keep you up late at night with your pals and strangers alike.

The next generation is waiting for you to give it a good home. Why not start by being an early adopter of the Sony PlayStation 4? Fans of action titles can jump right in immediately out of the gate with games such as Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, and the exclusive Sony franchise Killzone Shadow Fall. Consider it an investment for the future - Halo creator Bungie will launch its next game Destiny with exclusive PS4 content in 2014. Enjoy the best action that Sony has to offer this year and beyond.

Hell hath no fury like a Spelunky lover scorned. One of the most challenging games to come out in quite a while, Spelunky randomly generates stages across four different worlds, each packed with devilish obstacles. The goal is to hit the jackpot in gold and prizes at the center of the Earth, but beware the treachery that the game envelops itself in. Working on little health and but a single life, the player must descend deeper into the labyrinth, where they may meet a cruel fate at any turn. Addictively satisfying, Spelunky is an independent powerhouse filled with evil mummies, bullfrogs with bad attitudes, and tiny UFOs that explode on impact.

What do you get when you mix the taste for criminal activity seen in this year's Payday 2 with the top-down navigation and collect-a-thon theme of 1980s Pac-Man? You get an oddly entertaining and engaging hybrid by the name of Monaco: What's Yours is Mine, a game that brings 30 surprisingly elaborate missions to the table that range from busting fellow goons out of jail to robbing high-stakes casinos. Like just about anything in life, Monaco is even better with a friend or three, as the game supports cooperative play. Turn those who oppose you into adorable skeletons in this fun, frantic top-down action title.

Activision knows what the people want, and they want more of the Ghosts! When a superpower comes into existence to devastate America, the Ghosts—the country's leading elite military squad—is called into action. The sixth Call of Duty title from long-time developer Infinity Ward has received much hubbub in regards to the use of dogs in your squad, as the game promises to break new ground in using animals as a way to evoke human emotion out of the player. If you push all of the new stuff aside, however, you still have the critically-acclaimed Call of Duty gameplay and multiplayer that the series has built its reputation on.

It was only a matter of time before the LEGOs rose up and overtook gaming as a whole. LEGO City Undercover is the first attempt by developer TT Fusion (a division of TT Games) to create a living, breathing LEGO world to explore that isn't tied to an existing license. While previous outings followed linear levels, LEGO City Undercover offers a sandbox environment to do as you please while taking in missions as a member of the police force. This gorgeous LEGO land is almost like a kid-friendly Grand Theft Auto.

The early adventures of Kratos are told in the PlayStation 3-exclusive God of War: Ascension. Filled to the brim with cinematic gameplay sequences—which have become cornerstones for the franchise—God of War: Ascension offers more breathtaking boss battles in the name of revenge. An embattled Kratos deals with the emotional toll that revenge has left him with as he embarks on an epic journey to defy the Gods and take justice against Aries into his own hands. Utilizing new and old moves alike, Kratos gets yet another opportunity to rip off the head of all who stand in his way.

From the makers of another cult classic Bayonetta comes The Wonderful 101. Frantic, colorful action fills every inch of your HDTV's screen in this gorgeous and challenging beat-'em-up. Using the Wii U Gamepad, a horde of 100 playable characters gather into formation before your very eyes and transform into a plethora of objects that you draw. Form a sword with the tiny bodies at your disposal to eliminate the innovative and overwhelming bosses that the game throws at you, or solve puzzles as you explore. If strength comes in numbers, the Wonderful 101 definitely lifts, bro.

The complete second season of Strike Back, the Cinemax original series that is bringing credibility to the cable network's original programming, is now available on Blu-ray. Enjoy all 10 episodes from the second season's run, following the heroics of Section 20, a top-secret British organization that is dedicated to keeping the peace. Join Section 20 as they attempt to apprehend a band of terrorists who are seeking nuclear triggers in Africa that could bring about Judgment Day.

If you're looking for some high-octane action, you might be gazing at the very definition of the phrase. By bringing Vin Diesel, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Paul Walker together for Fast & Furious 6, you know you're in for a wild ride. The crew faces the opportunity to be pardoned for their crimes by helping Hobbs (Johnson) track down the head of a dangerous squad of mercenary drivers. The Blu-ray edition of the film is packed in a stylish Steelbook case that houses both the BD and DVD formats. High-definition exists for films like this.

The James Bond series has received a wake-up call ever since Daniel Craig stepped aboard to play the notorious Agent 007 in 2006's Casino Royale. Who would have thought that watching a game of high-stakes poker would be so intense? Followed up by the Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, the Daniel Craig era of James Bond has been one to revere. Relive all the action that the trio of films has offered with this Blu-ray high-definition collection containing the lot of them.

Everybody loves a good redemption story, especially when it involves lots of explosions. When a muddied-up former Presidential guard (Gerard Butler) happens to be within the White House walls at the moment of a terrorist attack, he uses his inside knowledge to navigate around the action and save the President (Aaron Eckhart) from a kidnapping—all while saving face in the process. Bullets will fly in high-definition with the Blu-Ray edition of the flick, which—as per standard these days—comes fully loaded with a DVD copy as a bonus.

Take a look at what everyone is talking about with the arrival of the Complete First Season of Vikings on Blu-Ray. If you've ever felt like a wimp in your life, the tale of protagonist Ragnar, a budding Chieftain, will certainly reaffirm what you've always known. Join the series across its introductory season, spanning 9 full episodes that also contain alternate and extended scenes, to see brutality at its finest as Ragnar deals with betrayals and forbidden passions on a daily basis in his quest to conquer the land.